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7
I am indebted to the Public Assistance Officer for the following
figures:—
(a) Total number of Deptford Residents, including wives and children,
on outdoor relief, at the end of 1938 :—2,530.
(b) Amount expended on outdoor relief in Deptford during year
ended 31st December, 1938:—
£59,001 7s. 11½d.
A further index of the economic position is afforded by the details
of the incomes of persons receiving milk through the Council's scheme.
An analysis of the applications made in December showed that the
number of persons granted milk was 531. Of these, 454 persons were
in receipt of a wage which, after deduction of rent, left less than 7s. 6d.
per head in the family: in the case of a further 77 persons, the same
conditions being observed, the amount per head varied between 7s. 6d.
and 10s. 6d. During the whole year 10,228 applications for fortnightly
supplies were granted. Of this number, 8,717 applications were in
respect of families in receipt of an income, after deduction of rent, of
less than 7s. 6d. per head per week, and in the remainder, the amount
varied from 7s. 6d. to 10s. 6d.
Education facilities in respect of elementary, secondary and technical
education are well provided, while the Borough Council has made a
valuable contribution in establishing a Central and two Branch Libraries.
Swimming pools with chlorination plants to ensure cleanliness of
the water, slipper baths and washhouses are maintained by the Borough
Council and are largely used.
The chief industries are those associated with the metal trade, stone
and slate works, paper works, tarpaulin making, spinning and sackmaking.